Happy New Year

 Not wanting to break with tradition, Bob and I were in bed by 10.00.pm last night. Hope you had a good party, wherever you are!

I shouldn't have boasted about the weather. It's turned. But its not raining and we are not being flooded.

ending the year

 Beautiful weather here - the last couple of days have been a treat. We've been running hither and yon doing domestix, paperworky stuff, nothing fun; sunshine a great help.

Kells is still with us though rarely spotted due to cute granddaughter!

Boxing day

Many friends evaded my camera last night, or I was too busy ladling out mulled wine to get organised. Below is Jo sitting with the parrots and the many mince pies which made our french friends suspicious (Sweet? Salty?)

Liked this of John Morley, Janet was there somewhere - and here's Pierre (Anne-Marie not too well so she wasn't there) with Katerine
 

and Karim, Jem being there somewhere...

several apologies due to seasonal exhaustion and malaise, alas - rest up y'all - and many thanks for the gifts and conversations and extra mince pies.

New life

Kells and grandchild... altogether now, ahhhhhhh

 

Christmas greetings

 

christmas eve

 Here is Katrine, the hero of last nights party. She hosted the groups' christmas eve with her extremely special skills, principally cooking of the wild boar casserole; magic!!

She managed us all (a dozen assorted foreigners) with her calm aplomb. 

Here's a rare shot of me and the captain together... he's much better, thanks all, and we were touched to get a call from the emergency services doing a follow-up call after his recent collapse (see previous posting). 

Here's Janet, having just delivered a ridiculous joke to the delight of all...

and Rose, looking frisky-

Love this of Norbert and Louise

and here are Tim and Yvonne pulling an (excellent) cracker 

Tim!!! Always the best xxx

The only blight on the evening was the non-appearance of  Alain. Since Gillies death he's been relocated to the Maison de retraite but was expecting to join us for the party. Alas, just before his lift arrived, he took a tumble. Staff thought it was too much for him to go out without medical supervision -

we toasted him and are hoping for better news as he settles in.

This year we toasted many absent friends. 

There's a lot to be said for the joy of old mates and easy companionship. Really enjoyed the evening.

white christmas

A lot of France is in trouble with flooding, but not Esperaza - as you can see, despite much rain, the mighty Aude is still having a break.

We get our excitements elsewhere.

 

Yesterday morning, last min christmas panicking, we went to Leclerc where Bob turned white and fainted. The staff were wonderful. Several helped plus one medical passer-by did the recovery stuff. They called the pompiers who put him in an ambulance and tested his heart and after a while said he was ok. Which was as well. I don't drive and we were a long way from home with a bunch of shopping.

A little tense, nonetheless.

Just back from seeing Dr Levys young helper who was most encouraging. Interested in the pile of drugs Bob is on and ordered some bloods - very encouraging and unfearful about it all, without being dismissive.

So, lessons learnt; carry a list of the drugs you/yours are on. I had absolutely no idea while the emergency workers were trying to help and needed to know. From now on the list is on my phone. 

Plus, carry water and possibly chocolate. 

Every day another challenge :)

 

lunch at the creperie

Its been a while... the fact is, I was in London for two weeks and spent that time in bed with the vicious UK 'flu, toying with the notion of death. Had the hospitals not been overwhelmed I'd have gone there for help but was too ill to sort it.

Clearly I'm OK now - and learnt some vital things. When flying from Stanstead, mask up; and ask for help. There is a desk at the entrance where a team of sweet people will look after you - wheelchair you through all the formalities and deliver you to your gate where more sweet people will get you up those stairs. Couldn't have done it without them.

Getting back just in time for Gillies funeral was a shocker. Being beset by aggrieved French agriculturalists another.

But here we are, alive and getting stronger day by day. Feeling insubstantial - and so Bob took me to lunch at the Creperie, a treat after a long break.

Crepes with creamed leeks and noix St Jacques - magic!

Don't forget Michael's tribute show tomorrow. Not practical for me to go but Bob and other friends will be there... 

Diary date

Barbara has sent this poster - rather poorly treated by me and my dreadful tech skills -  and writes that all Michael's friends and many admirers are welcome to a little vernissage at 3.00 pm on the 21st.

See y'all there, health permitting...

 

RIP Gillie Loft 30 May 1949 - 12 December 2025

 

Gillies cancer first made itself known during covid which presented a range of challenges in itself - because she was a nurse she knew what was going on and was heroic in her fight. Not for herself but for Alain her husband, to whom she was devoted. Her many friends watched in awe as she went round  after round of treatment - with a wicked good humour and many flashes of naughtiness.

Her funeral yesterday was marred by the road blockages of the French agricultural workers. Not everyone was able to get to the crematorium, some sitting in traffic as the ceremony commenced without them. Many complaints sent heavenward where Gillie could (allegedly)  be heard to snigger...

Afterwards Alain, James and Fiona hosted a wake at Tout-la, where Norbert, Roy and Clare performed for us. An amazing tribute. 

Alain will be living in the Maison de Retreat where I'm sure he'll be visited regularly - FYI its open for visitors after 11.00am .

Much love and bonne courage to the family - Gillies memory will linger in Esperaza.

absent

 No prizes for guessing - I'm in London. Sigh. Horribly wet. Back ASAP